Mesmerising show of Duffmuttu

The Lulu International Shopping Malls Pvt Ltd created another record for the India Book of Records (IBR) and Asia Book of Records (ABR) simultaneously, for the traditional Duffmuttu dance performed by a large number of dancers together at a single venue. The mega event took place at the Lulu Mall Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) in Kerala to celebrate the festival of Cheriya Perunnal on April 23, 2023. Earlier also, the same mall had set a record for the maximum number of people dancing together dressed as Santa Claus.

The Cheriya Perunnal celebration at the Lulu Mall had many attractions for visitors and shoppers this time. From the Mehendi competition to the Soul of Sufi by Siju Kumar, and the stunning performances of Sufi Dance, Oppana, and Arabic Dance, to the mesmerizing Tanoura performance and Crystal Dance, it was a grand celebration of Cheriya Perunnal. In Kerala, Eid is commonly known as Cheriya Perunnal (the small festival), while Bakrid is called Valiya Perunnal (the big festival).

The dancers on the stage were holding decorated Duffs (Duffli) – a traditional percussion instrument made of wood and ox skin. The artists were beating the duff, while the leader of the group was singing, praising the Creator’s glory in Arabic. The rest of the members of the group formed the chorus and moved in circles as the dance progressed. Duffmuttu or Duffkalli dance form is popular among the Muslim community in the Malabar region (comprising of Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod, and Wayanad districts of Kerala) and Karnataka. It is performed to commemorate their festivals, and nuptial ceremonies, and also for social entertainment. This dance form is said to have been initially performed in Madina in South Arabia. The festival of Eid was celebrated with enthusiasm at the mall on April 20-23. The four-day celebration had various kinds of dance performances on different days. The main hall of Lulu Mall – tagged as the World of Happiness, attracted thousands of visitors during the performances. People lined up on the three floors of the mall flashing their smartphone lights and capturing the grand show. Dancers in white, sky blue, green, blue, and golden costumes performed in groups with Sufi and Arabian music beats. Their costume colours complemented the light yellowish interiors of the grand hall.

The record for ‘maximum dancers performing traditional Duffmuttu dance at a single venue’ was set by Lulu International Shopping Malls Pvt Ltd, Trivandrum, Kerala, where 200 dancers performed in traditional attire.

With a total built-up area of 20,00,000 sqft, Lulu Mall Trivandrum is one of the largest malls in the country. The shopping mall is located along the side of National Highway 66 at Aakkulam near Technopark the largest IT park in India. The mall has over 300 national and international brands and 12 anchor stores including a Lulu Hypermarket, the largest indoor entertainment zone, and a multilevel car parking space for more than 3,800 cars. The Lulu International Shopping Malls Pvt Ltd runs four malls in India, located at Trivandrum, Kochi (Kerala), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).